Kathmandu : Forward duo Sabita Rana Magar and Preeti Rai scored in their debut match as Nepal registered a fighting 2-1 win over Bangladesh in the first international friendly match at the Dasarath Stadium on Thursday.
Sabita scored in the 13th minute of the match to give Nepal an early lead. Sabita’s header off Bimala Chaudhary’s cross gave goalkeeper Rupna Chakma no chance as Nepal increased the early pressure.
Another debutant Preeti Rai doubled Nepal’s lead in the 23rd minute.
Saru Limbu’s clever pass was bet by Preeti, who beat a defender and easily finished the goal when goalkeeper Rupna came out from outside the penalty box.
In the 49th minute, Preeti Rai’s one-on-one shot was saved by goalkeeper Rupna on a pass from Saru Limbu inside the penalty box.
In the 69th minute, Mosamat Sopna pushed the ball forward from the middle of the field and Ritu Porna Chakma tried to head the cross from inside the penalty box but Bangladesh could not reduce the goal difference.
In the 79th minute, Anjila Tumbappo Subba, the goalkeeper of the Nepali team, saved the attack of Smriti Sarkar by punching.
Tohura Khatun scored in the first minute of the 83rd minute to make it 2-1 after her shot from near the penalty area deflected off a defender.
In the second half, Nepal was under some pressure to adopt a defensive strategy. Bangladesh put more pressure on Nepal than in the first half.
The second friendly match will be played on Sunday at 5 pm at Dasharath Stadium in Tripureshwor. Nepal and Bangladesh have played two friendly matches before the AFC Cup 2022 qualifiers to be held in Uzbekistan. The Nepali women’s team will play two games in Uzbekistan to qualify for the 2022 Asian Cup in India. Nepal will face the Philippines on September 18 and Hong Kong on September 21.
